Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2015
135. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a second full free preschool year for all children in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7741/15]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education programme provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school.
There is an increasing body of Irish and international evidence quantifying the benefits of early years interventions in terms of improving outcomes for children and in delivering significant economic and societal return to the State. In this context, I believe the introduction of a second year would benefit children’s educational and developmental outcomes.
Despite the challenging budgetary situation, the preschool year has been maintained as a universal and free programme, ensuring that a significant number of children can avail of quality preschool services who would not otherwise be in a position to do so.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020, recognises the value of early childhood care and education in supporting children's early cognitive, social and emotional development, and the Government is committed to the introduction of a second free preschool year within the lifetime of the Framework once the required quality standards are achieved and subject to the availability of resources.
However, the introduction of a second preschool year would require considerable additional funding, broadly in line with the cost of the current provision, which is €175 million per annum. This additional funding is not currently available due to the financial constraints under which the Government is operating. In addition, all of the available evidence indicates that the quality of the preschool provision is key to good outcomes for children. The Early Years Quality Agenda is being progressed by my Department. This involves a range of actions in key areas aimed at improving quality within early years services and enhancing the regulatory regime. These reforms are key building blocks for any further extension of universal child care provision.
I want to ensure a cohesive, whole-of-Government approach to investment in child care services. To ensure that all the benefits of child care investments are fully realised, future public investment in child care must be evidence-based and strategically coordinated. With this in mind, I have established an Inter-departmental Group to look at the provision right across the 0 to 6 age group as well as to consider the after-school needs of older school-going children. I have asked the Group report to me by the Summer.
